bishop denis browne – NZ Catholic Newspaper

Priests called to be ‘digital disciples’

NZ Catholic Staff — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 20:18:45 +0000

A visiting bishop from Australia has encouraged Kiwi priests to be “digital disciples”, involved in social media. Bishop Richard Umbers, an auxiliary bishop of Sydney, gave this exhortation at a Hamilton diocese priests’ summer gathering in Rotorua on January 30-31. The bishop spoke on evangelisation and it was in this context that he made the

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Maori priest installed as cathedral dean

Rowena Orejana — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 20:30:00 +0000

A poignant liturgy characterised by light, song, Māori culture and laughter saw Pa Peter Tipene installed as Dean of the Cathedral of St Patrick and St Joseph in Auckland. Bishop Patrick Dunn was joined at the installation on February 1 by Bishop Denis Browne (who ordained Pa Tipene as priest in 1994), Bishop Richard Umbers

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Akld bishop prays at Liston grave

Michael Otto — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 21:40:43 +0000

For the first time, Auckland diocese’s Mass for deceased priests and their celebration of clergy jubilees was combined into one event on November 9. Bishop Patrick Dunn and Bishops Denis Browne and Owen Dolan celebrated Mass with Auckland’s priests at St Patrick’s Church in Panmure. Then Bishop Dunn led a procession in which the graves of deceased clergy were blessed in the cemetery next to the church. The procession concluded at the

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Men’s fellowship celebrates 30 years

NZ Catholic Staff — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 04:32:02 +0000

by Mike Baird

Driving into Willow Park Christian Camp at Eastern Beach in early October brought back a flood of memories.

My first Joshua Men’s Retreat was held here in 1996. I remember walking into a room full of men roaring praise and worship and thinking, “I’ve come home”.

My search for Christian men’s fellowship had led me to Pentecostal church gatherings that were great, but I missed a Catholic flavour. No adoration, no morning prayer, no Reconciliation, no priests, no Mass.

Here, Joshua offered it all. Willow Park has become an institution for Auckland Joshua men’s retreats. Founded in 1935 by Christian philanthropist Robert Laidlaw, Willow Park is now surrounded by multi-million dollar real estate. Parts of the camp reflect its longevity with gaps in the walls showing daylight.

In a way this suits the Joshua retreat. No hundred-thousand dollar sound systems and smoke machines here. Just ordinary men seeking a closer walk with Jesus.

This year the retreat held a special attraction for me. The calibre of the advertised speakers was stellar with Fr Michael Gielen as keynote speaker and Bishop Emeritus Denis Browne and Michael Pervan both leading workshops.

The weekend’s theme “Embrace God’s mercy and be empowered” was unpacked beautifully by Fr Gielen over a series of five talks. He told stories of when he both received and dispensed mercy. These underpinned his entreaty for us to soften up our hearts and receive God’s mercy. This in turn would lead us to become men of mercy ourselves. A merciful Church presents the most attractive face to a world wanting and needing to see a merciful God.

We were told the heart-softening process is no picnic at the beach. It more resembles a war zone. Happiest people, said Fr Gielen, know how to keep friends. They do this by saying “sorry”, often.

We were encouraged to thank our wives when they point out a weakness. This was all part of the transition from being a “dead man walking” in a cave to becoming a man fully alive, walking in the light.

Bishop Denis’s workshop was like a fireside chat with a wise and seasoned prophet. He led us into a discussion on Pope Francis’ Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), his exhortation on the family. Here was a place for mercy to be extended to those Catholics living in irregular relationships.

Yes, it is a minefield, but the Church is being called by Pope Francis to go dance in it anyway. Michael Pervan led a fascinating workshop on iconography, the re-emerging art form of the Church. He explained how God becoming incarnate in his son Jesus allowed the Church to depict him for the first time. The icon is always a depiction of the mystery of the Incarnation.

The weekend finished with a celebration of 30 years since Joshua’s inaugural retreat in 1986. Fred Webb, a founding member, recollected how the fraternity came about with the meeting of two men previously unknown to each other, himself and Maurice Schischka. Maurice’s son David then spoke of his deceased Dad’s vision for Joshua and his legacy left to encourage us.

The retreat has left me pondering the closing words from Fr Gielen. Do I want to just exist or live, be a dead man walking or a man living an adventure? Mercy is inextricably tied up in my fiat, my yes to living the adventure.

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Two Hamilton men ordained to priesthood

Michael Otto — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 23:09:43 +0000

by PETER GRACE A former accountant and general manager of Dunedin diocese was ordained to the priesthood in Morrinsville on October 10. Stuart Young grew up as a Presbyterian and attended St Kentigern’s College in Auckland. While there, he told NZ Catholic before his ordination to the priesthood, he had a religious experience on a

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A trifecta for Hamilton’s new priest

Michael Otto — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 03:39:16 +0000

by JULIE SOUTH Fr Danny Fraser-Jones might not be a betting man, but on August 22 he turned up a trifecta. He celebrated his 39th birthday. He celebrated 39 years as a baptised Christian (he was baptised on his day of birth). And he was ordained priest — at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin

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Bishop Browne’s long service honoured

Michael Otto — Wed, 13 May 2015 22:00:11 +0000

by JOHN FONG Twenty years of episcopal ministry of Bishop Emeritus Denis Browne in Hamilton diocese was celebrated in a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton on April 16. Joining in the celebration were Cardinal John Dew, apostolic nuncio Archbishop Martin Krebs, Bishops Stephen Lowe, Patrick Dunn, Owen

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Hamilton diocese gets best possible gift

Michael Otto — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:19:38 +0000

by PETER GRACE Hamilton diocese received the best gift possible from the West Coast on February 13 — Hokitika born priest, now bishop, Stephen Lowe. Bishop-Elect Lowe was ordained and installed as the third bishop of Hamilton at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The ordination and installation, beginning at 6pm, included the new

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Moving and Joyful Celebration for New Bishop of Hamilton

Michael Otto — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 20:55:48 +0000

by Simone Olsen In a moving and joyful celebration of the Mass, Bishop Stephen Lowe was consecrated and formally installed as the third Roman Catholic Bishop of Hamilton, on Friday. The liturgy which took place in the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, steeped in Catholic tradition with rich symbolism, it involved people from throughout

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Pope Francis appoints new Bishop of Hamilton

Michael Otto — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 21:25:46 +0000

The Holy Father has appointed Fr Stephen Lowe as the next Bishop of the Hamilton Diocese. Bishop-Elect Stephen Lowe is the third Bishop of Hamilton and succeeds Bishop Denis Browne whose resignation has been accepted by the Holy Father. This is the first appointment by Pope Francis of a New Zealand Bishop.
“We are grateful that Bishop-Elect Stephen Lowe has accepted the call to this special ministry, and on behalf of all the New Zealand Bishops I express our support and welcome as he becomes part of our New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. We have no doubt that he will bring a valuable perspective to our discussions,” said Archbishop John Dew, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.
In 1996 Bishop-Elect Lowe was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Christchurch, serving in parishes throughout the Diocese. He has spent the last six years serving at Holy Cross Seminary in Auckland, the national Catholic Seminary, as Director of Formation.
Hearing of the announcement Bishop Browne said, “I am delighted that Hamilton will receive a Bishop with such pastoral sensitivities and expertise both of which Bishop-Elect Stephen has. His pastoral experience in parishes and his brilliant term as director of formation will all serve him well and he will be warmly welcomed to Hamilton Diocese.
“For myself looking back over nearly 38 years as a Bishop in three difference Dioceses, I am grateful for the wonderful support and loyalty that I have received from Clergy, Religious and the Laity.”
As news of his appointment was announced Bishop-Elect Stephen Lowe said “It has been a humbling and overwhelming experience to have been called to be the third Bishop of Hamilton. I look forward now to meeting the people, religious, deacons and priests of Hamilton Diocese and to work with and serve them as their Bishop. As I do so I am conscious of Bishop Denis Browne’s faithful service as bishop and I look forward to learning from him and the Diocesan family as I take up my new ministry.”
Archbishop John Dew said “I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to Bishop Denis Browne for his dedicated service as Bishop of Hamilton for the last 20 years, and his valuable contribution to the Church in New Zealand since his ordination to the priesthood 52 years ago.”
“Bishop Denis has always approached his vocation as Bishop in a prayerful and faithful way. He always puts people first, and their needs are always at the forefront of his decisions.” Said Archbishop Dew.

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